I dunno about merino, but cycling shorts (and jerseys) were definitely wool when I started my cycling career - with a real chamois insert too. They were bloody uncomfortable and got clammy and saggy in Darwin's tropical humidity, but were still better than anything else to sit on my old Brooks bumsplitter.

No they don't. They have 'lycra' (aka spandex), not 'Lycra (R)'. I've checked..

Ground Effect wrote:We get our Hyperactive fabric manufactured in Italy, and our Intercool in Auckland. The same Auckland mill also makes our nylon-lycra. I use a small 'l' in Lycra because we don't actually use "Lycra", but use the term lycra as a generic way of describing stretch-knit fabric. 'Nylon-elastane' is unlikely to mean much to most of our audience.

I vote for sidestepping the whole issue. Let's have more WNBR days. That will encourage everyone to cycle

I think the crossover point to cycle-specific clothing for me is between 5-10km. Funny thing, I don't care what I wear on the tourer or CAAD10 but did feel group pressure to go road pedals rather than SPDs or flats!

boss wrote:I rode home in shorts and boxer briefs and it was horrible. And it was only 6km.

Shorts a la stubbies or shorts a la knee length? Riding to work in summer (>25C) I wear knee-length shorts with few problems.

Boxer briefs? I'll leave them for the boxers. Jocks all the way, and again no problems on my 10km commute. Maybe the leather saddle helps there ??

Total agreement. Never wear boxers. Sooner or later, one of the lads will shift position when standing and when you sit down again, you'll find out the hard way that it shifted into a position between your thigh and the saddle. Ask me how I know...

Leather saddle is also one of the great gifts.

...whatever the road rules, self-preservation is the absolute priority for a cyclist when mixing it with motorised traffic.London Boy 29/12/2011

outnabike wrote:just as an aside, how long would you say it takes to break in a new leather saddle?

If you're lucky (and many people are) the saddle should be the right shape and comfy, if hard, from day one. Generally you can expect 1000-1200kms to get it well broken in, but you can also buy pre-aged saddles now that are pretty right from the start.

CheersPete

Riding bikes in traffic - what seems dangerous is usually safe; what seems safe is often more dangerous.

so, generally:people who view a bicycle primarily as sports equipment are pro-lycra, people who view a bicycle primarily as transportation are lycra-neutral, and people who don't ride a bicycle are anti-lycra.

boss wrote:I rode home in shorts and boxer briefs and it was horrible. And it was only 6km.

Shorts a la stubbies or shorts a la knee length? Riding to work in summer (>25C) I wear knee-length shorts with few problems.

Boxer briefs? I'll leave them for the boxers. Jocks all the way, and again no problems on my 10km commute. Maybe the leather saddle helps there ??

I ride 18km to work and 20KM home, shorts all year round and jocks. No problems with my original saddle (just the standard Giant CRX saddle with some gel padding) and now no problems with the brooks B17. Only wear boxers to bed.

My Brooks didn't need breaking in, comfy from day 1 except that I couldn't get the adjustment right because of the short rails, fixed that with a better seat post.

Munga, I suppose I am lycra neutral. I consider lycra to be a fashion crime but I can see the practicality of it and also take the view that if people want to commit fashion crimes they are well within their rights to do so. That said, lycra is a practical and not fashion item, so what it looks like is actually not part of the design brief. I have now bought one cycling jersey and will get a few more, but lycra shorts will never grace my bike, each to their own.

DavidS wrote:Munga, I suppose I am lycra neutral. I consider lycra to be a fashion crime but I can see the practicality of it and also take the view that if people want to commit fashion crimes they are well within their rights to do so. That said, lycra is a practical and not fashion item, so what it looks like is actually not part of the design brief. I have now bought one cycling jersey and will get a few more, but lycra shorts will never grace my bike, each to their own.

DS

It really depends on one's body 'shape' and proportions. I've seen a few people around Perth who look really good in cycling kit; fit, strong, athletic and pro. Seeing some of these cyclists actually makes me want to get a roadie and wear kit as well some days. Wearing looser fitting civvies/touring kit and riding a heavy, slow touring bike everywhere is all well and good but does get annoying sometimes.

However I've also seen more than enough MAPILs (middle aged people in lycra) with big bellys/phat behinds wearing tight cycle kit and I find it pretty gross.